Chapter 9: Let's Talk Reason
Chu Shaofeng died peacefully...
The moment Chen Xuan sheathed his sword, Chu Shaofeng instantly split in two and fell to the ground.
Boom!
Fairy Yunmeng, leaning against the tree, was dumbfounded. She stared at the young man before her with gaping mouth. She had considered biting her tongue to end it, or self-detonating her Heavenly Essence to take Chu Shaofeng down with her.
She had never imagined this young man could defeat Chu Shaofeng, and in such a clean, efficient manner.
Yet it had happened right before her eyes. How had this young man done it? What supreme sword technique was that?
No, he was definitely not an ordinary mortal, but a Senior who had cultivated to the point of returning to simplicity.
"Are you alright?"
Only then did Chen Xuan remember the Fairy Yunmeng sitting nearby.
"Senior, I'm fine."
Fairy Yunmeng secretly glanced at Chen Xuan. Only now did she realize how handsome this Senior was. That heat in her body, which the pills had suppressed, rose again in her heart.
This Senior was so powerful - he should have a way to help me resolve the Dragon-Overturning Phoenix Powder's effects.
"If you're fine, walk a bit. I'm going home."
Chen Xuan turned to leave without the slightest intention to stay.
"Wait, Senior."
Fairy Yunmeng grew anxious. She asked with a flushed face: "Senior, I've been hit with the Joyous Union Sect's Dragon-Overturning Phoenix Powder. Can you help me disperse the drug's effects?"
"Sorry, I don't know how. Farewell."
Chen Xuan refused without thinking. Dragon-Overturning Phoenix Powder didn't sound like any proper medicine. Besides, he hadn't studied medicine. What if he failed to cure her and got himself into trouble instead?
"..."
This was the first time Fairy Yunmeng had been rejected by a man. But she wasn't discouraged at all. She continued:
"Senior's candor is truly extraordinary. Actually, this Dragon-Overturning Phoenix Powder only lasts twelve hours. This junior just wants Senior to find me a quiet place to meditate. After all, this place is too dangerous."
Women really were trouble!
Chen Xuan said calmly: "Follow me, then."
"Thank you, Senior."
Fairy Yunmeng said, opening her porcelain bottle again and swallowing another pill to suppress the turmoil within her body.
"You keep calling me 'Senior.' Do I look old to you?"
Chen Xuan said with exasperation. He was clearly a handsome young man in his early twenties. Was this Fairy Yunmeng blind?
It must be so!
"Then how should I address you, Prede... you?"
Fairy Yunmeng asked cautiously, afraid of angering this Senior.
Chen Xuan raised his head at a forty-five-degree angle, looking at the sky: "Hmm... just call me Young Master Chen."
"Very well, Young Master."
With that, the two passed through the dense forest together and arrived outside the Wushang Sword Sect's Ask Sword Pavilion.
Chen Xuan pushed open the gate, lit a lantern, and handed it to Fairy Yunmeng: "You'll sleep on the second floor tonight. That way no one will disturb you."
"Yunmeng thanks you, Young Master."
Fairy Yunmeng accepted the lantern and walked lightly up to the second floor.
Chen Xuan washed up and happily went to sleep. Thinking about how he had not only gained a lot of experience today but would also receive a substantial reward, he smiled sweetly in his dreams.
A hundred li away, within the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
There was a mountain perpetually shrouded in dark clouds, wreathed in death qi. Within several li, no grass grew, and white bones piled high.
At the foot of the mountain, a moss-covered stone tablet bore several eye-catching characters: Living Forbidden Land, The Living Must Not Enter.
Crash!
Suddenly, a soul lamp shattered in a cave within the mountain, startling the ghost creatures inside. In this cave, only the famous ghost creatures possessed soul lamps.
"That Faceless Ghost fellow is finally dead."
A green-faced, fang-bearing evil ghost showed a chilling smile, gloating over the misfortune. He had long disliked that Faceless Ghost brat. All skill and no substance, just good at flattering the Master, earning his deep favor.
Now that fellow was dead, and no ghost would compete with him for credit anymore. Just thinking about it made him incredibly happy.
Beside him, a female ghost sitting before a mirror, applying makeup to her face skin, unhurriedly slipped the skin onto herself. In an instant, she transformed into a beautiful matron.
The Painted Skin Ghost said nonchalantly: "What are you so happy about? The Faceless Ghost was helping the Master guard the Red Pavilion. His death means the Red Pavilion might be lost.
That's the Master's magical treasure. If we lose it, the Master won't spare any of us."
The green-faced ghost's smile gradually froze. His earlier good mood vanished as he said in a deep voice:
"Damn Faceless Ghost. I knew he was unreliable. Do you have the Red Pavilion's token?"
"Here!"
The Painted Skin Ghost took a token from her bosom and tossed it to the green-faced ghost.
After receiving the token, the green-faced ghost casually cast a spell. Soon, an image appeared in mid-air - the Red Pavilion was slowly sailing toward the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
But the usually bustling Red Pavilion was strangely quiet today, like a true ghost ship, completely silent.
This made the Painted Skin Ghost feel a trace of unease: "Let's see if there are any ghosts left inside."
The green-faced ghost cast another spell, and the view shifted. The ghosts saw only an empty Red Pavilion - not a ghost remained, not even a shadow.
"Who the hell did this?!"
The green-faced ghost roared. His large hand slapped down, accompanied by crackling sounds. In an instant, the cave was a mess.
"Over a hundred ghosts! These female ghosts were all captured by this General with great effort, and now they've been slaughtered in a single night.
If this General finds out who did this, I'll flay their skin, pull their tendons, drink their blood, eat their flesh - only then can I quell the hatred in this General's heart!"
The ghost soldiers in the cave trembled under the green-faced ghost's menacing aura, kneeling on the ground, not daring to speak.
At this moment, the Painted Skin Ghost beside him smiled: "If you want to know who did it, just go to Dongyang Prefecture yourself. In that tiny Dongyang Prefecture, what cultivator could stand against you, a Nurturing Spirit ghost general?"
"You have a point."
The green-faced ghost said with a ferocious expression: "Tomorrow I'll gather my forces and go to Dongyang Prefecture. I'll capture that person and offer their living soul to the Master!"
The Painted Skin Ghost smiled: "Then I wish General Green Face victory!"
"Hmph!"
After snorting, the green-faced ghost left the cave, followed by the other ghost soldiers.
...
Chen Xuan in his sleep didn't know that a group of evil ghosts had marked him. He slept until dawn.
Upon waking, the first thing Chen Xuan did was check if his clothes had been touched. Confirming he was still a boy, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Good thing Fairy Yunmeng hadn't taken advantage of him. Otherwise, if she turned around and demanded he take responsibility, that would be big trouble.
After tidying up, Chen Xuan opened the Ask Sword Pavilion's gates. Following custom, he lit incense for the ancestral masters, then sat on a cushion to meditate.
Before long, he heard rapid footsteps approaching from outside. Someone was bringing him money.
Chen Xuan didn't open his eyes but quietly waited for their arrival. Before the person even entered, Zhao Youqian's familiar voice rang out.
"Sword Keeper Brother, something terrible has happened. Your task reward has been withheld."
Hearing this, Chen Xuan slowly opened his eyes and asked calmly: "You mean the Ascension Office wants to renege?"
"Commander Liu wouldn't dare renege. It's that Xiao Bei fellow interfering, saying this sect task was assigned by the prefecture city's Ascension Office, so it must be confirmed by the prefecture city's Ascension Office to count." Zhao Youqian explained.
Chen Xuan said unhurriedly: "It seems the one behind this can't sit still anymore. In that case, let's go down the mountain and reason with them."
"Reason with them?"
Zhao Youqian looked at Chen Xuan with surprise. Had he heard wrong? The Sword Keeper Brother actually wanted to reason with people?
"That Xiao Bei is completely unreasonable. Will that work?"
Chen Xuan stood up and picked up the sword beside him: "We sword cultivators have always used our swords to speak. If he doesn't accept it, we'll beat him until he does!"
"Brilliant!"
Zhao Youqian gave a thumbs up: "Brother Chen truly is educated. Your way with words is impressive. If you're free, let's go."
"Let's go."
As Chen Xuan prepared to leave with Zhao Youqian, they had barely stepped one foot out the gate when a clear voice suddenly came from behind.
"Young Master, are you going out?"